A Strong Human Connection

Building on the practice they began in middle School, students gather every day in a group of twelve with their designated Advisor for community-building activities and one-on-one guidance with studies.  On Mondays and Fridays, the emphasis is on fun, small-team games that instill a cooperative approach to problem solving. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday meetings review grades, attendance, and development of Habits of Professionalism. For Juniors and Seniors, each Wednesday’s Advisory is focused on getting ready for college or career -- choosing the right college, applying for a scholarship, preparing for a job interview, planning for life away from home.

The Étude Group has taken the lead among Sheboygan public schools in implementing the research-based Guided Discipline approach to classroom management and reduction of behavioral issues. Our philosophy is to treat every student with dignity and trust, guiding rather than telling them how to behave, creating an optimal environment for learning. Classrooms are organized to be inviting and inclusive of every student. Our teachers are trained to listen rather than to lecture; they are experienced in discussing problems, discouraging negative attitudes, and defusing confrontations. Clarity in communicating expectations and consistency in applying standards encourage students to make responsible decisions and turn desirable behaviors into everyday routines. Missteps are addressed via conversation, support, and mild but meaningful consequences, with parental involvement as appropriate, rather than through traditional and widely ineffective sanctions. We are committed to a restorative - not a retributive - approach.

Every Wednesday, Town Hall assemblies bring all High School students together for an hour of community-building interaction. Each week, a different Advisory group takes charge of setting the agenda and directing the meeting. It’s an opportunity for the celebration of achievements and announcement of upcoming events, when students share their work, raise and resolve problems, and join together in community-focused activities - a practical demonstration of The Étude Group’s commitment to the principles of democracy.

The Étude Group believes that democracy is a lesson best learned hands-on, and the seeds we sow in Elementary and Middle Schools bear fruit in High School. The size of our school is an advantage, making it possible for every student to have a voice in decisions that affect them at a personal level and as members of larger groups. At the beginning of the academic year, each class agrees on goals and guidelines for behavior, with review and any needed revision every quarter. The concept of student-led collective decision making is central to our weekly Town Halls, in which all high schoolers participate. It extends into after-school clubs, which students set up and organize, recruiting teachers ad hoc for support.

The PATH  - Providing Access to Healing - program makes counseling services available to all students who require them, throughout the Sheboygan County School District. Mental health professionals visit schools to deliver onsite therapy at no charge, offering individual sessions to identify and address anxiety, depression, and more serious conditions. Improvements can be seen in academics, discipline, and social behaviors. The Étude Group strongly supports the work of PATH, which reinforces our mission to support the whole person, regardless of income or family circumstances.